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I didn’t think that it could be done, but Viltrox made a 35mm f1.2 autofocusing lens that I want to carry around with me all the time. And I’m not talking about for just work, but a true 35mm f1.2 that is light enough to want to always bring around with you. What’s more, it boasts great image quality and weather resistance.

The Big Picture: Viltrox 35mm f.2 FE Lab Conclusions

To recap what I say later on in the review, I’m considering getting rid of all my Sony lenses and just keeping Viltrox around with Tamron for zoom lens coverage. I never thought that a brand would make a 35mm f1.2 lens that I’d want to bring around all day. But this is lightweight enough, small enough, and performs so well. I’m so shocked that this lens exists and I’d gladly take it with me on a vacation as the only lens that I bring with me.


























Rating: 4 out of 5.

We’re giving it four out of five stars. Want one? Check it out on Amazon.

Pros

  • The “pop” in the images is really lovely
  • Weather sealing is comparable to Tamron in our tests
  • Fast autofocus even if it misses at times
  • Tracking works well enough for most situations
  • Pretty affordable

Cons

  • Sometimes can miss the autofocus; to the point that this is what I’d expect from a Sigma lens.
  • Disabling the aperture ring isn’t as apparently easy as you’d think, but once you get the hang of it, it’s fine.
  • It’s a big lens

Gear Used

Here’s what we used:

  • Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab: Provided to the Phoblographer to keep
  • Sony a7r III: Our own unit
  • Profoto B10: Our own unit

Innovations

There isn’t much that’s innovative about this lens. However, it is the first to include the little LED screen up top. That, and there aren’t many 35mm f1.2 lenses out there. Sony will surely be taking this lens seriously as they’ve recently been considering Viltrox to be a serious contender.

Who Should Buy the Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab?

This lens is for all types of documentary shooters.

Hardware

Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab product image
A camera with a large lens and a red-black strap sits on a book on a wooden surface.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab product image
A Viltrox camera on an open magazine with a blurred photo of a woman outdoors in the background.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab product image
A camera with a Viltrox lens rests on an open magazine showing a woman outdoors.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab product image

First off, I need to note that the Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab is very well built. There’s metal, plastic, and rubber involved with the construction. It feels good in the hand and it isn’t a problem to bring it around for a whole day of shooting. In fact, I brought this lens for a 13.5 mile walk here in NYC. It felt a whole lot lighter than anything I’ve used from Sigma in the past.

One of the most impressive things about this lens is the fact that it has a whole lot of weather resistance, which some folks wrongfully label as weather sealing. We took it out into the rain for a shooting session and it didn’t fail at all. If anything, Sony’s cameras are more likely to fail in the rain.

When I held this lens along with the 135mm f1.8 from Viltrox, I see commonalities. And if anything, I’m considering getting rid of all my Sony lenses. I’d keep Viltrox for their prime lenses and Tamron for their zooms.

Focusing

A fluffy brown dog with its tongue hanging out is being held by a person wearing a brown top.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image

Autofocus with the Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab isn’t totally its strongest suit. While it’s good, I truly think that the 135mm f1.8 was much better. However, most of the testing I did with the lens was with it on not the final firmware update. Once that was done, things changed and seemed a bit snappier and more accurate. Note that with older Sony cameras, it won’t be able to do AF tracking when animals are selected unless you’re in specific autofocus modes. In contrast to Tamron, which Sony partially owns, Tamron lenses will have no issues at all with tracking in similar situations.

A man in a suit and a woman in a green dress walk barefoot across a city street, smiling.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image

Ease of Use

Turn the aperture all the way stopped down and then you can control it via the camera instead of the lens. Otherwise, that’s really all that you need to know that’s out of the norm. It operates like a typical high end Sony lens and if you’re familiar with those, then you’ll have no issues with this one.

Image Quality

Perhaps my favorite thing about the Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab is the image quality. The bokeh is nice, the colors are rich, and the sharpness is decent though not as much as it is with the 135mm f1.8. Still, I really like the image quality as it almost reminds me of the older Sony Zeiss lenses. So if you’re into that classic mirrorless camera look, then you’ll want to reach for this. When you use it combined with a flash the image quality becomes even sharper due to how the laws of physics work. But I truly like that this isn’t a terribly clinical lens; though you can tell Viltrox is leaning that way.

Extra Image Samples

The Phoblographer has been huge on transparency with our audience since day one. Nothing from this review is sponsored. Further, many folks will post reviews and show lots of editing in the photos. The problem then becomes that anyone and everyone can do the same thing. They’re not showing what the lens can do. So, we have a section in our Extra Image Samples area to show edited and unedited photos. From this, you can decide for yourself.

Unedited

Close-up of a handwritten label reading Lotus Moon Cake $2.75 on a metallic surface.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Three people with cameras photograph through a bridge fence while another person walks by.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Two women walk outside on a sunny day; one checks her phone while the other smiles, wearing a hoodie and cap.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
A building under construction with yellow insulation panels and trees in front.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Smiling elderly woman sits in a restaurant with a lit birthday cake in front of her.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE sample image
A leafy tree stands in a grassy, green area near a road with a white vehicle in the background.
Image by Chris Gampat
Close-up of pine tree branches with water droplets, blurred background of greenery and buildings.
Image by Chris Gampat
A glass jar sits on a reflective table with bokeh lights in the blurred background.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE sample image
People stand under umbrellas outside a lit restaurant on a rainy city street at night.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE sample image
People wait at a rainy, illuminated city bus stop at night under an elevated train track.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE sample image
Close-up of a wet tree trunk with fresh green leaves, blurred cars and houses in the background on a rainy day.
Image by Chris Gampat
A corn dog topped with ketchup and mustard in a Sebras Corn Dogs paper tray on a wooden table.
Image by Chris Gampat
Five Korean corn dogs on sticks, each with different coatings and shapes, displayed in front of a blurred menu.
Image by Chris Gampat
A gold-rimmed cup of coffee on a saucer sits on a table in a softly lit café.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE sample image
Table set with a red napkin, gold plate, cutlery, and a yellow glass in a restaurant setting.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE sample image
A plate of crispy, saucy Manchurian garnished with fresh herbs on a marble table.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE sample image
A bowl of curry with shrimp, herbs, lime, roasted vegetables, and naan bread on the side.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE sample image
A clear glass jar sits on a reflective table between two forks with a blurred, warmly lit background.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE sample image

Edited

Tall modern skyscraper with glass windows and balconies, viewed from below against a clear blue sky.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
A row of parked cars lines a residential street with apartment buildings at dusk.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 review sample images
A quiet, dimly lit city street at dusk with brick buildings and a few people sitting on the sidewalk.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 review sample images
Person walking a dog on a sidewalk at night in a city with brick buildings and streetlights.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 review sample images
A brick apartment building on a city corner at night, with cars parked and lights on in some windows.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 review sample images
A quiet city street at dusk, lined with parked cars, trees, and brick buildings under streetlights.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 review sample images
A lit entryway with two doors and metal gates, leading up steps, beside a narrow alley at night.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 review sample images
Cars parked under a metal structure casting shadows on a brick wall near a convenience store.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 review sample images
A quiet street intersection with brick apartments, parked cars, and a Skillman Ave street sign.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 review sample images
Two parked cars in front of three neighboring houses on a sunny day, with trees casting shadows.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 review sample images
Silhouette of bare tree branches against a pale, cloudy sky.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 review sample images
A snake plant with a blooming white flower sits on a windowsill next to a large seashell.
Image by Chris Gampat
Elderly woman smiling in a restaurant with a lit birthday candle on dessert in front of her.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE sample image
An older woman looks closely at a dessert with a strawberry on top in a dimly lit restaurant.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE sample image
City lights reflecting in a puddle on a wet sidewalk at night, with raindrops creating ripples.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE sample image
A hand holds a filled wrap with meat and vegetables, with blurred food and tableware in the background.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE sample image
A modern, elegant restaurant with diners seated at tables and a chandelier-lit ceiling.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE sample image
A basket of freshly baked naan bread garnished with herbs on a marble table.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE sample image
Close-up of a restaurant menu featuring soups, Indian kathi rolls, and other dishes with prices listed.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE sample image
Four people sit at a restaurant table, talking and drinking juice in a brightly lit, modern space.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
People wait in line outside Wah Fung No. 1 Fast Food in a busy city street with colorful shop signs.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
A person walks two dogs on a city sidewalk past flower stands and parked cars on a sunny day.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Man in a brown patterned robe and hat stands by a bike on a city street, looking at his phone.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Red brick building with a single ornate bay window, trees casting shadows, and cars parked nearby.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
A man smiles and reaches toward a child in a stroller on a sunny city street.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
A tall red brick church with a pointed steeple and clock faces, set against a clear blue sky.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Colorful mural with FEEL THE VIBE on a building at a busy city intersection, people crossing the street.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
A tall building and traffic light seen from below against a bright, sunny sky.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
A man carries a child on his shoulders while pushing an empty stroller on a city sidewalk.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Urban street view with crosswalks, tall buildings, a skybridge, and pedestrians on a sunny day.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
View of Brooklyn Bridge, waterfront park, and green trees on a sunny day with people walking below.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Two men in black suits walking across a street in an urban setting on a sunny day.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
View of a city street lined with modern buildings, one covered in blue scaffolding, on a sunny day.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
View of Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline over the East River, with trees and a park in the foreground.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
A crowd of people walks across the Brooklyn Bridge toward Manhattan on a sunny day.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Woman in sunglasses holding a black umbrella on a bridge with city buildings in the background.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Man wearing sunglasses and a black t-shirt stands on a bridge with city skyscrapers in the background.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
A cityscape with tall buildings, green trees, a park, and a bridge over a river under a blue sky.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
A city street with red brick buildings and skyscrapers in the background under a blue sky with clouds.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
A street vendor arranges colorful New York caps on a cloth laid out on the ground.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
View of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline across the East River on a sunny day.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Aerial view of cars driving on a highway along a river with city skyscrapers in the background.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Black and white photo of birds flying in a cloudy sky, with most of the sky visible.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
A person hands out flyers on a sunny city street as two people walk toward them.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Black and white photo of modern glass buildings with sunlight reflection and power lines in the foreground.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Manhattan skyline view through Brooklyn Bridge cables on a sunny day, with skyscrapers and blue sky.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
A woman carries a child in a pink dress across a city bridge, with tall buildings in the background.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
A modern, uniquely angled glass skyscraper against a blue sky with scattered clouds.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
A woman in jeans takes a photo of a seated person on a sunny day on a wooden bridge.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Black and white view looking up at the cables and towers of the Brooklyn Bridge against a cloudy sky.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
A man balances on a railing with arms outstretched as people walk on a busy city bridge under a blue sky.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Blue sky with white clouds, seen through a grid of diagonal and vertical wires or cables.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Man with sunglasses and striped shirt holding food, standing outside in front of a yellow flag and blue house.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Abstract image with blurred white streaks against a dark and green background, suggesting motion and light.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Large variegated monstera plant indoors with sunlight casting leaf shadows on a cream-colored wall.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Tall green trees with sunlight filtering through, standing beside a brick building under a clear blue sky.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Woman in a pink shirt holding shopping bags sits on a bus with other passengers, some looking at their phones.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Tree trunk in foreground with apartment buildings and leafy trees lining a sunny residential street.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
A man stands by a wall covered with colorful posters reading Never Become a Former New Yorker.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image
Street art of a young boy with bandages and tech gear, with “CO EXIST” and “BE THE CHANGE” written on him.
Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab sample image

Tech Specs

These are taken from Viltrox’s website

  • F1.2 Ultra-Large Aperture
    Smooth, dreamy bokeh, and bright low-light performance—perfect for portraits and night shots.
  • Flagship-Level Sharpness
    Outstanding edge-to-edge clarity, even wide open at F1.2—ideal for high-resolution sensors.
  • Advanced Optical Structure
    15 elements in 10 groups, including 5 ED, 3 HR, and 2 UA lenses—deliver high contrast and low aberration.
  • Quad Viltrox HyperVCM Autofocus
    Fast, silent, and precise autofocus with face/eye tracking—optimized for both photo and video.
  • Pro Controls + LCD Display
    Multi-function ring, dual Fn buttons, clicked/de-clicked aperture ring, and a customizable info screen.
  • All-Metal Weather-Sealed Build
    Aerospace-grade metal body with dust & moisture resistance for reliable outdoor shooting.

Declaration of Journalistic Intent

The Phoblographer is one of the last standing dedicated photography publications that speaks to both art and tech in our articles. We put declarations up front in our reviews to adhere to journalistic standards that several publications abide by. These help you understand a lot more about what we do:

  • At the time of publishing this review, Viltrox is not an advertiser with the Phoblographer. This doesn’t affect our reviews anyway and it never has in our 15 years of publishing our articles. This article is in no way sponsored.
  • Note that this isn’t necessarily our final review of the unit. It will be updated, and it’s more of an in-progress review than anything. In fact, almost all our reviews are like this.
  • None of the reviews on the Phoblographer are sponsored. That’s against FTC laws and we adhere to them just the same way that newspapers, magazines, and corporate publications do.
  • Viltrox sent the unit and accessories to the Phoblographer for review. There was no money exchange between Viltrox and the Phoblographer for this to happen. Viltrox and several other manufacturers trust the Phoblographer’s reviews, as they are incredibly blunt.
  • Viltrox knows that they cannot influence the site’s reviews. If we don’t like something or if we have issues with it, we’ll let folks know. We were the first publication to inform about the issue with the Leica M10R and how it renders the color orange. We’ve also called out Sony on several things as well as gone back and changed ratings on products before.
  • Viltrox shipped the unit to the Phoblographer and, if they request it back, will be paying for the return shipment. This is a standard practice in the world of journalism.
  • The Phoblographer’s standards for reviewing products have become much stricter. After having the world’s largest database of real-world lens reviews, we choose not to review anything we don’t find innovative or unique, and in many cases, products that lack weather resistance.
  • In recent years, brands have withheld NDA information from us or stopped working with us because they feel they cannot control our coverage. These days, many brands will not give products to the press unless they get favorable coverage. In other situations, we’ve stopped working with several brands for ethical issues. Either way, we report as honestly and rawly as humanity allows.
  • At the time of publishing, the Phoblographer is the only photography publication that is a member of Adobe’s Content Authenticity Initiative. We champion human-made art and are frank with our audience. We are also the only photography publication that labels when an image is edited or not.

More can be found on our Disclaimers page.

Viltrox 35mm f1.2 FE Lab Review: Not Done by an Influencer
To recap what I say later on in the review, I’m considering getting rid of all my Sony lenses and just keeping Viltrox around with Tamron for zoom lens coverage. I never thought that a brand would make a 35mm f1.2 lens that I’d want to bring around all day. But this is lightweight enough, small enough, and performs so well. I’m so shocked that this lens exists and I’d gladly take it with me on a vacation as the only lens that I bring with me.

Chris Gampat is the Editor in Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Phoblographer. He provides oversight to all of the daily tasks, including editorial, administrative, and advertising work. Chris’s editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. He’s the author of various product guides, educational pieces, product reviews, and interviews with photographers. He’s fascinated by how photographers create, considering the fact that he’s legally blind./

HIGHLIGHTS: Chris used to work in Men’s lifestyle and tech. He’s a veteran technology writer, editor, and reviewer with more than 15 years experience. He’s also a Photographer that has had his share of bylines and viral projects like “Secret Order of the Slice.”

PAST BYLINES: Gear Patrol, PC Mag, Geek.com, Digital Photo Pro, Resource Magazine, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, IGN, PDN, and others.

EXPERIENCE:
Chris Gampat began working in tech and art journalism both in 2008. He started at PCMag, Magnum Photos, and Geek.com. He founded the Phoblographer in 2009 after working at places like PDN and Photography Bay. He left his day job as the Social Media Content Developer at B&H Photo in the early 2010s. Since then, he’s evolved as a publisher using AI ethically, coming up with ethical ways to bring in affiliate income, and preaching the word of diversity in the photo industry. His background and work has spread to non-profits like American Photographic Arts where he’s done work to get photographers various benefits. His skills are in SEO, app development, content planning, ethics management, photography, WordPress, and other things.

EDUCATION: Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a degree in Communications in Journalism in 2009. Since then, he’s learned and adapted to various things in the fields of social media, SEO, app development, e-commerce development, HTML, etc.

FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. But he doesn’t get to do much of this because of the high demand of photography content. / BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Don’t do it in post-production when you can do it in-camera.



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